Automatic wire stripper



Oct. 16, 1951 c. CALABRESE 2,571,338

AUTOMATIC WIRE STRIPPER Filed May 18, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l I V EN TOR.- Car/226a C faficse 1951 .c. T. CALABRESE 2,571,338

AUTOMATIC WIRE STRIPPER Filed May 18, 1948 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV NTOR. Carma: 7 C52 afiwse Oct 16, 1951 c. T. CALABRESE AUTOMATIC WIRE STRIPPER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 18, 1948 w a C. 7 w W a Oct. 16,1951 c. T. CALABRESE 7 AUTOMATIC WIRE STRIPPER I Fi led May 18, 1948 l 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

1f ,z z arizciys.

Oct. 1951 c. T. CALABRESE 2,571,333

AUTOMATIC WIRE STRIPPER Filed May 18, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Ca77zz e;z jC'aZmnase Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC WIRE STRIPPER Carmen T. *Calabrese, Chicago, 111.-

Application May 18, 1948, Serial No. 27,648

7 Claims.

My invention relates to insulated wire, such as is used in electrical and radio work, and more particularly to means for cutting the wire into sections of desired length and stripping the insulation from the end portions of the cut sections.

One object is to provide a machine for the above purpose in which the wire is fed in a straight line and periodically into a mechanism where it is gripped, the foremost section cut off, and the insulation incised a short distance beyond and before the cut, whereby to define the extent to which the wire section terminals are to be bared.

A further object is to separate the severed sections while the insulation portions between them are still being gripped, whereby to leave such portions empty of wire and for disposal as waste.

Another object is to include a unit effective to release the wire from the original feed during the aforesaid separating action, in order that the wire may not buckle and clog the feed.

A still further object is to provide a unit which receives the foremost section of the wire after it has been severed and terminally stripped, such unit operating to eject the said section from the machine.

An additional object is to provide simple means for changing the length of the resulting wire section according to requirements.

Another object is to provide a gearing for operating the wire treating mechanism which is fast, highly efficient and fully automatic, requiring no manual attention or control whatsoever.

An important object is to design the novel machine along extremely compact lines, and with a minimum of parts consistent with efficient operation.

With the above objects in view, and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a right-hand side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a similar view from the left-hand side;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation;

Fig. 5 is an end view of a cutting unit;

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are face views of cam units, taken on the section lines 6-6, 'l-'l, and 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a section of a one-way clutch employed in the wire feed;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line lll-l ll of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged top plan View of the 2 upper portion of a waste handling u'nit seen from the line I l-Il of Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line l'2--l2 of Fig.11;

Fig. 13 is a section on the line l3l3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged section on the line l4l4 of Fig. 1; r

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of a wire supply control accessory to the machine;

Fig. 16 is a section on the line |6I6 of Fig. 15; and

Fig. 17 is a right-hand side view of the control.

In accordance with the foregoing, specific reference to the drawings indicates the base of the machine to be a heavy plate 20. The base is built up at the rear with a pair of side plates 2| secured to the base 20 through the agency of bolted base flanges 22. About midway between the front and rear ends of the machine is a heavy cross-plate 25 also formed with a base flange 28; and at the front of the machine is a shorter cross-plate 28 formed with a base flange 29. The side plates 2| receive a table 30 at the top, such table extending forwardly to meet the cross-plate 25.

The space between the cross-plates 25 and 28 is largely devoted to the mechanism for the treatment of the covered wire, while the space to the rear of the cross-plate 25 accommodates a feed mechanism for the wire and the controls for the wire treating mechanism. The controls are mainly carried by a cross-shaft 32 which is desired to be operated by an external power source. However, Figs. 1 and 3 show that a hand wheel 35 is mounted on the right hand end of the shaft in case it is desired to turn the same manually for any purpose.

The wire feed is immediately accomplished by a pair of superimposed rollers 35 and 36, these having frictionally surfaced grooves 31 adapted to engage the wire as it passes in forward direction between the rollers. These have spur gear extensions 4| and 42 for positive normal engagement. suspend or interrupt the feed of the wire, the upper roller 35 is liftable to relieve the wire of friction, although the extent of lift is not sufficient to unmesh the gears 4| and 42. V

The periodical lifting of the roller 35 is accomplished by means originating with the main shaft 32. Thus, this shaft primarily carries a gear 45 to which may be led a suitable power drive (not shown). The shaft also carries a cam 46 which is designed to receive a follower 41 from above, such follower being spring-backed from the table 30 as indicated at 48. The follower rod 49 rises However, when it is desired to amass through a bearing 50 above the table to become linked at with an arm 52. The latter extends forwardly in the form of a bifurcated frame 53 whose forward ends are pivoted at 54 to the cross-plate 25. The frame 53 forms a horizontal bearing for the roller 35, and the nature of the cam 41 is such as to impart a lift to the roller once during each revolution of the shaft 32.

The feed of the wire is designed to impart only periodical rotative impulses to 'therollers 35 and 36 in the directions indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. For this purpose the motion of the main shaft 32 is transmitted to the rollers by the-means more clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. Thus, the shaft emerges from the left-hand sideofrthe machine to receive a flywheel 55; and the base 20 receives a support 56 in forwardly spaced relation from the flywheel journaling a gear 5 A pitman 51a extends between the flywheel and the gear-and isdesigned Ito impart-periodically reversing rotary motion .to the gear while the fly- -,wheel is in continuous rotation. As indicated in -2, the pitman connection with the flywheel is through the agency of a traveling nut 58 mounted on a diametrical screw 59 rotatable in a bearing 60 carried by the .outer face of the flywheel. The rotary adjustment of the screw makes it possible to change the radial position of the connection between the pitman 51a and the flywheel and thus shorten or lengthen the rotary travel of the gear 51.

The table 30 carries a support 52 journaling the roller 36. Fig. 2 shows that this roller has a pinion 64 in mesh with the gear 51. However, the pinion is carried by a conventional one-way clutch 65, more clearly shown in Figs. 9 and 10, so that the rotation imparted to the rollers .35 and 36 will only be unidirectional, that is, inthe feeding direction.

The covered wire 40 is guided through the feeding zone in a rear tube 61, and a frontal one .8311, and enters the zone between the cross-plate 25 and 28. Here the instrumentalities directly affecting the wire are located and will now be described. Primarily, it is the function of these to grip the wire at longitudinally spaced points, .sever the covered wire at a point substantially midway between such points, out through-the cov- ;ering.only a prescribed distance on eachside from the wire severing point, and separate the gripped sections to expose the naked wire ends. In order to accomplish these operations, a fixed horizontal shaft 10 is located between the cross-plates 25 and 28, the rear end of the shaft being reduced as indicated at H to fit into the cross-plate 25, .while the forward end of the shaft passes-over the cross-plate 28 to become lodged in ,a bearing bracket 12. The shaft 1.0 freely receives a pair of grippers 13 which are more clearly shown in the section of Fig. 14. The jaws "of these'grippers are designed to conform with and engage the covered wire 40 when the jaws gather. Similarly, the shaft 10 receives a pair of cutter heads 15, which have the same general form as the grippers 13. However, on the inner side, thecutter heads receive inserts 15a formed with .co-acting knives I6 and H. The inserts 15a are in three pairs and the knives are V-grooved as clearly indicated in Fig. 5. The knives 16 are carried by the center insert and are more pronounced than the knives 11 of the lateral inserts,'so that when the cutter heads 15 advance toward each other, the knives 16 act like pairs of shears to cross each other and sever the wire 40. However, .the knives 11 being shorter only cut through the insulation Fig. 6. a follower H2 carried by a slide bar I I3. The

covering at points spaced laterally from the wire severing zone.

A telescoping flanged collar 61b fits over the forward end portion of tube 61a as shown in Figure 1. This collar terminates in flange 610 which abuts the wire gripper 13. A spring 68 bottoms against the cross plate 2 5 and the flange 61c yieldably to hold the telescoping collar 6112 against the gripper 13. As the gripper l3'executes wire retracting movements, the collar 6Tb moves in unison with it.

The cutter heads and grippers have heel portions 18 whose lower ends are joined by coupled toggle links 19. Thus, when these are broken as indicated in Fig. 5, the cutter heads and grippers are spread apart. However, when the links are raised to the-'co extensive position indicated in tween the cross-p1ates25 and and is divided at ,81 to receive a side'pin88 extended from the vertical shank89 of-a yoke-90. TheshankBQ is ,slidable in a bearing 9| locatedon the base plate 20. The end pieces 95 'of the yoke are -longitudinally spaced and carry a rod 96 between them. This-rodpasses through the union of :the

links 19 of the-grippers 13 and cutter head 15.

It follows, therefore, that-the rotation of the cam 80 will induce the periodical l-ifting'of the yoke 9| to apply the grippers and cutter knives once every revolution of the main shaft 32.

It is apparent thatthe cutting operations mentioned above leave a pair'of shortcoveringpieces on the wire ends desired to be stripped, audit is now necessary to clear the wire sections of these pieces in order thatthe wire ends may remain exposed. This is done 'by separating such sections while they are still held by the grippers 13. Thus, the grippers are shown particularly in Fig. 1 to carry spool-type collars -98 on their outer sides. A pair of -anglelevers 99 occur in a horizontal plane below the shaft 10, being vertically pivoted at the angle as indicated at 16! to brackets I02 and 1'03 extending respectively'from the cross-plates 25 and 28. The outer arms I04 of the levers99 extend toward each other andcross as indicated in Fig. 3. One arm [64 is-slotted in its end as indicated at I05'to 'freely'receive-a pin I06 carried by the other arm. Thus,"the"-'1evers are pivotable in unison to gather and separate their inner ends; and the latter have upwardpins I01. directed into the co1lars'98 to procure the longitudinal gathering and separating'action "of the gripper sets 13 in accordance with the action of the levers 99.

The separating and gathering action of the levers 99 is controlled ,by'a .cam ,l'iii carried by the main shaft 32 and more clearly shown in The cam has a facial groove III for latter has a rear bearing -i [4 carried by a standard H5 on the base plate 20, aswellas aforward bearing on the cross-plate 25. A connection is provided between the slide bar H3 and an outer wing N6 .of the rear lever 99. such wing projectssome distance laterally from the bar H3, the latter receives an'o'ffset H1 carrying a continuation bar H8. A pivotal connection I I9 is made between this bar and the outer end of the wing II6. It is now apparent that the reciprocating cycle on the part of the levers 99 occurs during each revolution of the main shaft 32. A spring 311 between the offset H1 and the plate 25 draws on the slide bar H3 and keeps the follower bearing forwardly in the cam groove II I.

It is now evident that the separation of the wire sections held by the grippers leaves the pieces of wire covering previously mentioned devoid of wire and without support; also, by the separation referred to the forward section of covered wire is made to take a short forward stroke, while the rear section takes a short rearward stroke. In the first instance, no material effect is had. However, in the second instance, the feed wire takes a backing stroke, and it is at this time that the control of the roller 35 occurs to raise the same and leave the way clear for the momentary back movement of the wire.

Recurring to the two pieces of covering left in the center of the wire cutting zone, they are now waste, but receive a support momentarily, following which they are allowed to drop to the bottom of the machine or into a handy pan or basket. The support referred to originates with a long overhead bracket I25 projecting forwardly from the top of the cross-plate 25. The latter and the bracket carry rear and forward supports I26 and I21 for a pair of rods I28 arranged side by side below the bracket I25. Figs. 11 and 12 show that these rods carry a pair of opposed and bifurcated rocker arms I 29, these being urged apart at the top by a spring I30. The rocker arms depend with spoon divisions I 3| into the space between the cutter head inserts 15a. The latter carry transverse slides I32 whose inner ends are recessed at I33 to serve as jaws. The slides are tapped horizontally to receive feed screws I34 from the cutter heads 15, so that the jaws I33 are adjustable in and out and may be fixed by the application of set screws I35. As indicated in Fig. 12, the jaws I33 receive the wire covering pieces I36 between them as the cutter heads 15 gather, pushing the spoons I3I apart as also indicated in Fig. 13. This occurs as the gripped wire sections separate longitudinally, and the waste pieces I36 therefore receive support in the jaws I33. However, when the cutter heads again separate the spoons receive clearance to close from the force of the overhead spring I30 and catch the waste pieces between them. It follows now that when the spoons are again separated by the next gathering stroke of the cutter heads, the waste pieces drop out and fall into a discard receptacle which may be properly positioned to receive them. Figs. 11 and 12 also show end blocks I31 secured on the rods I28 by set screws I38 and extended with side lugs I39 over the ends of the rocker arms I29 to limit the separation thereof.

It is now apparent that the forward gripper 13 is holding the wire section I44 cut off from the supply portion, and that such-section is in the finished form, that is, with bared wire ends. It is intended that means for removing this wire section get into operation not only to take hold of the same before the gripper 13 is released, but also to travel to a point suificiently forward to eject the wire section where it may fall into a frontal receptacle (not shown) positioned clear of the machine. The immediate elements involved in this operation are a pair of frontal grippers I40, these being carried by a block I. The latter is pivotally suspended at I42 from an ear I43 projecting forwardly from the support I21. Full lines in Fig. 1 show the grippers I40 swung forward, while dotted lines show them down in the position in which they engage the wire section I44.

The action of the wire grippers I 40 is governed by the position of the rear lever 99. For the moment, it may be said that the forward position of this lever-as shown in Fig. 3-corresponds with the raised position of the grippers I40, and vice versa. The connections between the rear lever 99 and the grippers I40 first involve a post I48 rising from the free end of the lever to a point alongside the rods I28. Here the post makes a linked connection I49 with an arm I50 which extends forwardly to make a pivotal connection I5I with the lower portion of the block I4I. When the wire grippers I40 are in the raised position, they are separated by a wedge I52 secured to an extension I53 of the overhead bracket I25. How ever, when the rear lever 99 swings rearwardly to draw the wire grippers I40 down to the dotted line position in Fig. 1, an action occurs which forces one gripper I40 against the other while the wire section I 44 is in the middle, so that the same becomes engaged by the grippers.

The action just mentioned is induced by a side cam I55 best seen in Fig. 4. It is here noted that this cam is carried by a post I56. The latter is supported near the bottom by a side rod I51 projecting from the forward arm 95 of the yoke 90. Thus, while the wire grippers I21 are in the raised position, the yoke 90 is also elevated and keeps the cam I55 high and out of the way of the grippers 40. However, when these are down to the wire section engaging position, a side lug I58 carried by the left-hand gripper I21 comes to a point underneath the cam I55. At this time the yoke 90 descends, causing the cam I55 to press the left hand gripper I40 against the wire section I44 lying against the right-hand gripper. The next movement of the lever 99 now acts to raise the wire grippers I40. During this movement they carry the wire section I44 forward to a position clear of the machine where the grippers mount and are spread by the wedge I52, releasing the wire section where it may freely fall into the frontal receptacle previously referred to.

Fig. 4 shows that the post I56 has a top screw extension I60 and a seriesof nuts I6I for adjustably securing the cam I55 in respect to height. This connection also secures a lug I62 from which a draw spring I63 descends to the cross-plate 28. The purpose of this spring is to insure the quick application of the cam I55 to the lug I58.

Since the machine is designed to operate at relatively high speed, a wire supply control is required which may be coordinated with the wire feeding mechanism of the machine. Figs. 15 to 17 show a suitable unit for this purpose. Thus, a base, I15 is provided in which a shaft I16 is journaled. The front of the base is made with risers I11 in which is pivoted at I11a a rearwardly extending frame I18. This frame journals a shaft I19 parallel to and directly above the shaft I16. The two shafts carry intermeshing gears I and I8l and rollers I82 and I83, respectively, the rollers being annularly grooved and knurled in registration as shown at I84. The frame I18 is drawn toward the base by a spring the top roller 35.

words strip the same.

Iii with annadjusting screw I86 as a limit. The frame carries .a'bracket Ill! with an'inlet l'88'for :the covered wire, the latter being trained'between the roller grooves 184 toward an outlet I89 which leads to the machine. The roller I82 is driven either from the machine driving motor or from an independent'motor atra speed suitable to provide a limited amountof slack in the wire as it leads to the machine. It is understood that the adjustment of the screw I86 will be of assistance in thisrespect to vary the influence of the rollers I82 and 183 upon the wire 40 as desired, and that the slight vertical adjustment of the roller I83 will not afiect the meshing engagement of the gears I80 and I8I.

with the construction-of the machine recited in the foregoing, an outline of its operation is in order. Thus, the wire 40 from the supply control or pre-feeder of Figs. 14 to 16 is threaded through the guide tube 57 to a position under The frame 53 of the latter may be momentarily lifted by hand to permit the wire to pass between the rollers 35 and 35 and to enter the next guide tube GIa and between action lifts the yoke 90 and alines the toggle links 19, causing the grippers l3 and cutter heads 15 to close, to cut the wire 48 through at a central'point, cut the wire covering through at points spaced outwardly from the wire severing location,

and grip the covered wire in zones outside of the said points. Thus, the inserts 75a may incise the wire covering at points inch from the wire cutting zone; or the inserts could be replaced by a set which spaces the covering cutters one-half inch away, or any other spacing specified.

Now'that the-wire has been cut and sections of the covering out free from the'balance' thereof, the next task is to draw the wire portions ,7

outside of those sections apart far enough to leave the sections devoid of wire, or in other This is done by the operation of the cam III In advancing the slide bar II3, the camprocures the separating motion of the levers 99 and that of the-grippers H by way of the collars 98. However, the backing of the rear wire section wouldbuckle itas long as it is'within the grip of the feed rollers 35 and 36, and thecam '45 therefore acts concurrently with the stripping mechanism to lift the roller 35 and afford'the said rear wire section a backing clearance. Also, the gathering action of the cutter heads advances the'mechanism of Figs. 11 to 13 to receive the waste covering pieces in the jaws I33 asthe grippers separate "the severed wire section; andit follows that the consequent separation and gathering of the cutter heads will dispose of the waste pieces in the manner previously described.

are in-a position'to engage the wirein case the regular frontal gripper 13 releases the same. The engagement just referred to is induced by the operation of the side cam I55 as the yoke 80 descends and opens the :regular grippers, :so

that the frontal-grippers secure holdof the wire. It follows now that the'next gathering action-of the levers 99 advances the arm I50 and swings the frontal grippers I4llcarrying the final pieceor length-of wireforward to meet and become separated by the wedge I52, so that such piece or length of wire may drop clear of the machine into the receptacle below.

It is now apparent that the novel machine is composed of a number of units which operate in the proper harmony and sequence to treat the wire as "described. Since the latter travels in a straightline, it has no tendency to dog the machineor get out of the proper path; and the cam control of the major operations enables these to be properly timed bydesigning the cams accordingly. -Also, the fact that most'of the controls are positive enables the machine to be operated at a relatively-high speed, so that a large production of the final wire lengths or pieces is possible. Further a simple adjustment is feasible in case these pieces are required to'be longer or shorter, allwithout afiectingthe timing of the wire treating mechanisms. Further, the machine is fully automatic, since it needs no attendant or man- .ual assistance after-it has once been set and the wiresupply connected. Finally, the novel machine-is-small and compact,-so that it may be produced at minimum cost andbe set up on a bench, table or other handy support.

'VVhile I have described the machine along specific lines,'variousminor changes or refinements may be made therein without departing-from its principle,-and I reserve the right to employ all such changes and refinements as may come within the sccpeand spirit of the appended claims.

I claim: i

l. A machine for treating covered wire comprising-means to feed one end portion of the wire forwardly at intervals,-a pair of units operative between the intervals to grip said portion at longitudinally-spaced locations, second means operative concurrently with said units to sever the wire at a point between the units and only the covering at points laterally of the wire severing point, dividing-said endportion into leading and-remaining sections, and third means separating said units and the sections gripped thereby to exposebare wires at the contiguous ends of the sections said feeding means comprising a pair of peripherally grouped rollers, said end portion passing between the rollers and being frictionally engaged thereby, a fixed bearing for one roller, a 'main shaft, a gearing from the latter to drive the roller in the fixed bearing with a stop'motion, a carrier for the other roller and movable relative to-the roller in the fixed bearing, a cam on the main shaft, and a follower extended from the carrier and moved by the 0am to retract the carrier 'from the roller in the fixed hearing when said third means operate, affording a backing clearance for the remaining wire section.

2. -A machine for treating covered wire comprising means to feed one end portion of the wire forwardly at intervals, a pair of units operative between the intervals to grip said portionat longitudinally-spacedlocations, second-means operative concurrently with said units to sever the wire at a point between the units and only the covering at points laterally of the wire severing point, dividing said end portion into leading and remaining sections, and third means separating 'said units and the sections gripped thereby to expose-barewires at the contiguous ends of the sections,:eachof saidum'ts comprising apairof .9 opposed grippers pivotable toward and from each other on a common shaft, divergent tail pieces extended from the grippers beyond the shaft, a pair of toggle links connecting with the tail pieces, and means to alternately aline and break the toggle links swingin the grippers toward and away from each other.

3. A machine for treating covered wire comprising means to feed one end portion of the wire forwardly at intervals, a pair of units operative between the intervals to grip said portion at longitudinally-spaced locations, second means operative concurrently with said units to sever the wire at a point between the units and only the covering at points laterally of the wire severing point, dividing said end portion into leading and remaining sections, and third means separating said units and the sections gripped thereby to expose bare wires at the contiguous ends of the sections, each of said units comprising a pair of opposed grippers pivotable toward and from each other, a common shaft carryingsaid grippers, divergent tail pieces extended from the grippers beyond the shaft, a pair of toggle links connecting with the tail pieces, and operating from the common shaft, a yoke with ends carrying the latter, said yoke being reciprocable to alternately aline and break the toggle links, swinging the grippers toward and away from each other, a rocker bar keyed with one end to the yoke, a power shaft carrying a cam, and a follower for the latter carried by the other end of the rocker bar, the rotation of the cam operating through the rocker bar to impart reciprocatingmotion to the yoke.

4. A machine for treating covered wire comprising means to feed one end portion of the wire forwardly at intervals, a pair of units operative between the'intervals to grip said portion at longitudinally-spaced locations, second means operative concurrently with said units to sever the wire at a point between the units and only the covering at points laterally of the wire severing point, dividing said end portion into leading and remaining sections, and third means separating said units and the sections gripped thereby to expose bare wires at the contiguous ends of the sections, said third means comprising a pair of angle levers pivoted to stationary supports at their angles, one of the lever arms connecting with the units, the other lever arms being linked to each other to render the levers pivotable in unison to separate and gather the units, and means to periodically swing the levers in opposite directions.

5. A machine for treating covered wire comprising means to feed one end portion of the wire forwardly at intervals, a pair of units operative between the intervals to grip said portion at longitudinally-spaced locations, second means operative concurrently with said units to sever the wire at a point between the units and only the covering at points laterally of the wire severing point, dividing said end portion into leading and remaining sections, and third means separating said units and the sections gripped thereby to expose bare wires at the contiguous ends of the sections, said third means comprising a pair of angle levers pivoted to stationary supports at their angles, one of the lever arms connecting with the units, the other lever arms being linked to each other to render the levers pivotable in unison to separate and gather the units, an extension of one of the levers beyond the angle, a

bar linked with one end to the extension, at power shaft carrying a cam, and a follower for the latter carried by the other end of said bar, the rotation of the cam operating through the bar to swing the angle levers in opposite directions.

6. A machine for treating covered wire comprising means to feed one end portion of the wire forwardly at intervals, a pair of units operative between the intervals to grip said portion at longitudinally-spaced locations, second means operative concurrently with said units to sever the wire at a point between the units and only the covering at points laterally of the wire severing point, dividing said end portion into leading and remaining sections, and third means separating said units and the sections gripped thereby to expose bare wires at the contiguous ends of the sections, said third means leaving waste covering pieces on the separation of said bare wires, a pair of toothed jaws pivotally mounted between said pair of units, yieldable means inducing the jaws to close, and members carried by the units and directed to the remote ones of said jaws to separate them on the operative stroke of said second means, the latter allowing the jaws to close on the receding stroke by force of said yieldable means and catch said pieces as they fall, said jaws being forked at alternate points, and said members being plates passing through spaces in one jaw to meet the teeth of the opposite jaws.

7. A machine for treating covered wire comprising means to feed one end portion of the wire forwardly at intervals, a pair of units operative between the intervals to grip said portion at longitudinally-spaced locations, second means operative concurrently with said units to sever the wire at a point between the units and only the covering at points laterally of the wire severing point, dividing said end portion into leading and remaining sections, and third means separating said units and the sections gripped thereby to expose bare wires at the contiguous ends or" the sections, said feeding means comprising a pair of peripherally grouped rollers, said end portion passing between the rollers and being frictionally engaged thereby, a fixed bearing for one roller, a main shaft, a gear spaced from the shaft, a bearing carried by the latter, a pitman with one end radially adjustable in the bearing and the other end connected to the gear at a point imparting rotary strokes in opposite direction to the gear on the rotation of the shaft, and a one-way clutch drive between the gear and said roller effective to impart rotary strokes to the roller only in the wire feeding direction.

CARMEN T. CALABRESE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 540,779 Chandler June 11, 1895 1,592,592 Anderson et al July 13, 1926 1,626,119 Olin et al Apr. 26, 1927 1,733,294 Cross Oct. 29, 1929 1,784,298 Mahan et al. Dec. 9, 1930 1,787,658 Andren et a1. Jan. 6, 1931 1,831,115 Holmes Nov. 10, 1931 1,835,801 Mayhew et al. Dec. 8, 1931 1,998,391 Shaw Apr. 16, 1935 2,346,039 Montague Apr. 4, 1944 

